10-fold increase in fines on the Ashdown Forest

The fines for breaking a Bye-Law on the Ashdown Forest have been increased from £50 to £500.

The Conservators were given powers to set Bye-Laws to prevent the lighting of fires, causing a nuisance and damage to land and property in the Ashdown Forest Act 1974. A number of Bye-Laws currently exist covering things like driving or cycling on the Forest, camping or removing wood.

Now the Conservators have announced that after a long wait the Government have brought them in line with the standard scale of fines for summary offences, known as the “Standard Scale” – currently up to £500 for level 2 offences.

The Conservators have said no fines have been issued recently but a number of community resolution orders have been issued by the Police as a result of sheep worrying by dogs.